The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-07-19
QUEER TRANSACTIONS.
Some of The Oddities Met With
In Western Courts.

Some years ago Usage City, at the
mouth of the Usage river, was quite a
busy little commercial bnrg owing to
the large amount of produce that
found its outlet by means of the river
to that place, from whence it was
either shipped by boat down the Mis-
souri, river or transferred to the Mis-
souri, Pacific railroad for eastern
transit. As a consequence
quite a body of spectators and
traders were drawn to the place, and
the old residents found more lucrative
employment in supplying their wants
than in farming. Among this latter
class was, old "uncle Fritz Dahler, I"
as he was Familiarity known. His place
was centrally situated where the lit
tie town grew up, and having a
commodious farm house he converted
it into an hostelry and himself into
genial fat landlord, who dispensed
wholesome grub, good lodgings and
oceans of beer and wine to all callers,
for cash. Comfortably situated so far
as worldly possessions were concerned,
he was enabled to add to his stores
of wealth rather easily in
in this manner. He had but one son,
John, not an intelligent boy by any
means to the average observer, but
none the less the apple of the old
mans eye, and in his estimation a
youth destined to figure in the worlds
history as at least candidate for the
presidency some day. Imbued with
this idea, the old man, remarkably
close and frugal in other respects,
, lavished his wealth in efforts to secure
the young scion an education, and at
the close of his school days sent him
to the old home across the water to
display what wonderful develop
ment the new world could
produce in the way of
family progress. What impression
the young hopeful made upon his less
fortunate relatives over the brine is
unknown, but when he returned home
it was easily seen that the voyage
had given young Dahler a by no
means poor opinion of himself. In
order to still further advance his for
tunes the youth was next sent to San
Francisco to enter the bank of rich
uncle in that place. His stay on the
Pacific slope, however, was brief, as
at the end of three months he return
ed home, bearing a courteous mes
sage to the senior Dahler from
his San Francisco brother
to the effect, that in his opinion the
young man was not at all suited for
the banking business, but would prob
ably make an acceptable congressman.
The insinuation almost broke the old
mans heart, and to the day of his
death he never fully forgave his
brother for the slight.
After his return, young Dahler
made several unsuccessful attem' is to
establish himself as a justice of the
peace, and, losing heart in that di-
rection, he concluded be would try an
other plan to get a handle to his
name. To this end he induced
his father to purchase a
small Usage river packet
of which he took command, and from
that time on became Capt. John
Dahler.
After one or two trips had been
made, the reigning justice of the peace
passed in his checks as a result of a |
severe attack of river bottom malaria,
and Capt. Dahler saw in his demise an
opportunity 10 obtain the much coveted |
and long sought distinction of squire.
TurRin, over his boat to his mate, the
captain attended the defunct function
ariy's funeral, and on his return from
the obsequies, visited the bereaved |
widow, to whom he stated that there
being a vacancy in the important
Office it must be filled instanter, as
case was likely to come up at any
moment. She was simple German
woman who considered like Dahler,
the position of "Burgomaster" a
very high function, and without
word she turned over her husbands
books, papers and other official en-
semble to the captain, who, witho ut
delay, conveyed them to his home,
and next day hung out this sign:
Captain John Dahler, Justice of
the peace, Burgomaster and Notary
public"
To all who dared question his right
to do so without the formality of an
to and appointment
BY the county court, he
intimated that such contempt would
meet with the severest displeasure and
penalty of the court, and indeed one
Or two rash spirits were brought ND